Battery terminal clamp



June 20, 1933. c. LOOKER BATTER"! TERMINAL CLAMP Jnucnloz NH 11 x-umumu.

Filed April 12,

Patented June 20, 1933 PATENT OFFICE V CHARLES LOCKER, F- COLUMIBUS, OHIO BATTERY TERMINAL CLAMP Application filed April 12,

This invention relates to detachable cable connectors or clamps for the terminal posts of storage batteries used particularly in connection with automobiles, radios or other apparatus of like service.

The primary object of the present invention resides in the provision of a clamp provided with a single bolt forming the means for contracting the clamp around the terminal posts and also for spreading said clamp free from contact with the posts thus eliminating the use of special spreading tools for efl ecting the removal of the clamp.

Another object of the invention is to improve the standard type of contract-ible battery terminal clamps by providing the same with a special bolt which upon rotation thereof will positively spread the clamp free so that the same may be readily lifted ofi' the battery post.

A further object resides in the provision of a battery terminal clamp which is of extuemely simple construction, inexpensive and cheap to manufacture.

With these and other objects in View, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts hereinafter to be more fully described and pointed out in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view showing the battery clamp in its attached position to the terminal post of a battery,

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the clamp slightly spread and free from the terminal post,

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is a detail view of the bolt.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates the terminal clamp in its entirety, and which consists of the usual sleeve portion 2 having an aperture 3 formed therein adapted to fit the battery terminal post 4 of a battery. This clamp is of the usual type commonly employed in connection with batteries and the like and provided with a socket 1930. Serial at. 443,863.

or tubular member 5 which is adapted to receive the end of the cable or lead 6 which may be clamped or soldered to said socket in the customary manner.

The clamp 1 is split longitudinally as at 7 to permit the contraction of the sleeve to clamp the terminal 4. Formed with the sleeve are outstanding arms 8 and 9, thearm 8 being provided with a threaded opening 10 for the reception of the enlarged threaded portion 11 of the bolt 12. v

The bolt 12 is also formed with a threaded reduced portion 13 extending through a nonthreaded opening 14 formed in the arm 9 and which opening is in alignment with the opening 10 formed in the arm 8. The reduced threaded portion 13 is adapted to receive a "nut 15 which upon the tightening thereof will engage with the arm 9 to con- 7 tract the clamp around the post in the usual manner. v

To loosen the clamp from the post 4 the bolt 12 is rotated and moved longitudinally until the shoulder 16 formed at the juncture 5 between the portions 11 and 13 of the bolt engages the arm 9 causing the same to follow the movement of the bolt thus spreading the clamp.

In tightening the clamp the shoulder 16 must, of course, be spaced from the arm 9 to permit the clamp to be tightened. By un screwing the bolt 12 so that the shoulder 16 may be adjustably spaced from the arm 9 it will be seen that the clamp may be adapted to fit posts of various diameters.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that a clamp has been provided wherein the same may be contracted around the post of a battery in the usual manner by a single bolt and which also may be spread by simply manipulating the same bolt in a clockwise direction. The clamp has the advantage of being extremely simple in construction containing only a few working parts which are positive in their operation and not apt to become out of order.

It will be understood that the'connection may be formed of any suitable metal and that slight changes may be made in its construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

A battery terminal clamp comprising a split sleeve adapted to fit around arr-associated post of a battery, said sleeve being formed with outwardly extending arms, said arms being formed with registering openings one of which is threaded, a bolt adapted to pass through said openings and formed with an enlarged and a reduced threaded portion the former of which is received within said threaded opening, a nut upon the reduced portion for drawing the clamp into tight relation with said post, and a shoulder formed at the juncture between the enlarged and the reduced portion of the bolt adapted for engagement with one of said arms for forcing the same in an outward direction uponthe rotation of said bolt thereby spreading said clamp.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CHARLES LOOKER. 

